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Apparatus X: Sustainable Disaster Relief Vehicle

Students at Penn State are building a mobile design studio that will redefine disaster relief.

Josh Kessler

288 Facebook Friends

Design

State College, Pennsylvania

United States

9 Team Members

After Hurricane
Katrina devastated New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, one resident called the destruction indescribable – even compared with his
experience as a Vietnam War veteran. Although the Katrina survivor wants to
come home, he says "there’s nothing to come back to.”

Katrina
displaced thousands of people and ruined billions of dollars of property. Although
more than eight years have passed, the Lower 9th Ward is still
struggling to rebuild its community. Out of 14,000 people, only
3,000 have returned; properties are still vacant, and the remains of houses speckle the landscape.

Clearly, there
exists an entire population of displaced Americans, and our institutions have
failed them. One question remains: How can we take an active and effective role
in rebuilding this once vibrant community?

·
Provide
an adaptable tool trailer that can expand into a construction workspace;

·
Function
as a mobile design studio;

·
Serve
as a highly efficient mobile living unit that will exemplify sustainable
living; and,

·
Empower
and engage communities in need.

Apparatus X in its fully
expanded form

Your donation will help fund the Apparatus X prototype, which will travel to the
Lower 9th Ward upon completion. After its arrival, its workshop will
allow Aaron, our design leader, to aid in the physical rebuilding of the
community. Its expandability will also create a makeshift community center,
fostering an open environment that is crucial to long-term education and
development.

Apparatus
X will exist completely off-grid once it reaches its destination. The highly
efficient food, water, and power systems function almost entirely
self-sufficiently, as described below.

FOOD:

Apparatus X will include a
“Garden-in-a-Box,” which is a do-it-yourself kit for starting a garden.
Wherever Apparatus X goes, it can easily provide everything the community needs
to enjoy a sustainable and healthy source of food.

WATER:

A
rainwater collection and purification system, combined with a water recycling
system, creates a nearly completely closed loop. Water used for hygiene will
later be used to clean tools, water the garden, and so on.

POWER:

An
array of solar panels will produce 2000 watts, enough to power a small home. This ensures that even in areas without access to power, emergency relief
teams can still charge power tools and access safe, reliable shelter.

Although your
donation will specifically support our New Orleans-bound prototype, we envision
an entire fleet of Apparatus X emergency relief vehicles. Not only will they be
perfect first-responders, since they can provide basic needs like food, water,
and power, but they will also provide long-term relief rebuilding damaged
communities.

Ultimately, your
donation will help develop our prototype, but beyond that, it will help us
revolutionize disaster relief in a way that is sustainable, mobile, and
effective.

We have the
tools, willpower, and expertise to build Apparatus X, but we currently don’t
have the funds. We’ve earned $6,000 in sponsorships from IBM, Boeing, and various competitions, but we still
need more funding to make it to New Orleans.

If you support
our project, you’ll receive an exclusive reward that reflects your contribution
to disaster victims. The award levels are listed below, and remember -- perks are cumulative, so each donation level includes every level before it!

In addition to
benefiting people affected by Hurricane Katrina, your donation will also help a
diverse team of students enrich their academics with real-world experience.
Designing and constructing Apparatus X will offer future designers the
meaningful work they need to kick-start an entire career of social and ethical
responsibility.

The team leader
of Apparatus X is Aaron Wertman, a graduate student studying Architecture. Aaron
visited the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans last year, and was shocked by the
parallels between an American community and a developing country. As an
architect, Aaron decided to design a solution for the people of New Orleans. He
wanted to join the community and teach them the skills they needed to
rejuvenate the Lower Ninth Ward. Thus, his idea of a mobile design studio
evolved into today’s designs for Apparatus X.

Aaron is
collaborating with an organization called Engineers for a Sustainable World, a
club that seeks to solve complex problems with green solutions. These students
have experience designing and building solar panel systems, and are at the helm
of Apparatus X’s sustainability initiative.

In addition to
Aaron and Engineers for a Sustainable World, a number of additional
Architecture, Engineering, and Agricultural Science students have joined the
team, designing and building functional components of the vehicle.

In creating Apparatus X, we've partnered with a non-profit organization called the Lower 9th Ward Village. This organization was created in response to Hurricane Katrina, and it's committed to redeveloping the community.

As described in its mission statement, "The Lower 9th Ward Village is a community center that serves as a hub where all community members can access or create essential resources to empower themselves, be self-sufficient, become whole after Katrina and beyond, and sustain an equitable quality of life."

Mack, the Executive Director, is very excited for the Apparatus X project to grow in harmony with the Lower 9th Ward Village, and he's greatly anticipating its arrival. "This can't come soon enough," he says; "It's a great idea, and it needs to be here."

We have an
incredible opportunity to change the lives of people who need it most. There
are only twenty of us, but there are thousands of generous contributors like
you. Please support us as we help the Lower 9th Ward Village and thousands of displaced Americans rebuild one of the most historical, culturally vibrant, and thriving
communities in New Orleans.

Flexible FundingThis campaign has ended and will receive all funds raised.

Campaign Closed

This campaign ended on May 9, 2014

Select a Perk

$100USD

Primary Sponsor Level

Your name or organization as one of our primary sponsors, displayed on the exterior of the vehicle alongside our corporate sponsors (IBM, Boeing, and Envinity) for everyone to see, PLUS receive the "Apparatus Apparel" package

17
out of 200
claimed

$1USD

Every Dollar Counts!

Your name included on our official sponsors list, which will be displayed on our website

8
claimed

$10USD

Apparatus X Updates

Monthly updates from Apparatus X for one year, both during its development and during its outreach in New Orleans, PLUS receive the "Every Dollar Counts!" package

19
claimed

$25USD

Say Cheese!

Picture of Apparatus X signed by its designers, PLUS receive the "Apparatus X Updates" package

13
claimed

$50USD

Apparatus Apparel

Apparatus X t-shirt, PLUS receive the "Say Cheese!" package

14
claimed

$250USD

Direct Donation

$50 of your donation will be donated directly to the community organization that we are partnering with in New Orleans, PLUS receive the "Primary Sponsor Level" package

1
claimed

$500USD

Launch Party!

Join our launch party in State College, PA! Meet the team, explore the vehicle in all its sustainable glory, and have a great time! If you can’t make the trip to State College, we invite you to Skype with the team, not only so we can extend our personal gratitude to you, but also so you can ask us any questions you might have, PLUS receive the "Direct Donation" package. Travel and accommodations not included.

4
out of 12
claimed

$1,000USD

Mini X

You will receive a 1:12 scale model of Apparatus X, PLUS receive the "Launch Party!" package

1
out of 5
claimed

SOLD OUT

$10,000USD

Eternal Gratitude

Apparatus X will travel to your house so that we can personally thank you, PLUS receive the "Mini X" package